Bonani Hazel Mkhari
Mining Engineer
Summary
Results-driven Mining Engineer with expertise in mining operations, drill-and-blast technology, and production monitoring. Skilled in surface and underground fiery and hard rock production, operational planning, and stakeholder engagement. Proficient in utilizing digital tools, including Power BI, to enhance operational performance and support data-driven decision-making across the mining value chain.
Overview
8
8
Certifications
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Professional-in-Training: Mining Engineering
Exxaro Resources
01.2023 - Current
- Mining Engineering development programme with practical exposure to underground coal mining operations, production execution, frontline supervision, Mine Overseer duties, Shiftboss and Miner responsibilities, operational planning, production performance monitoring, SHEC compliance, stakeholder engagement, operational reporting and continuous improvement.
Acting Data Scientist
Exxaro Resources
03.2026 - 05.2026
- Developed Power BI operational dashboards to monitor production performance, shift performance and section performance across underground coal sections.
- Analysed production trends, deviations and improvement opportunities to support data-driven decision-making and practical planning outcomes.
- Improved production visibility, accountability and reporting accuracy for operational stakeholders, supporting operational planning and production execution.
Mine Overseer
Exxaro Resources
07.2025 - 02.2026
- Oversaw underground coal production sections with focus on safe production, operational discipline, production execution, compliance and site safety culture.
- Managed production teams through subordinate leaders to support safe achievement of production targets and effective short-term operational planning.
- Monitored daily production output, section performance, operational readiness, production constraints and operational risks.
- Liaised with production stakeholders to support achievable operational plans, design/plan execution and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- Coordinated in-bye and back-bye mining activities including construction support, dewatering, section conveyors, trunk conveyors, infrastructure readiness and production continuity.
Production Shift Supervisor / Shiftboss
Exxaro Resources
12.2024 - 07.2025
- Supervised underground production activities across shifts in a coal mining environment, coordinating labour deployment, safe work execution and production control.
- Monitored shift performance, section activities, production targets and operational risks while supporting short-term production planning and daily execution.
- Conducted workplace inspections and ensured compliance with legal, safety, SHEC and operational requirements.
- Communicated production requirements, risks, deviations and operational feedback to production teams and operational stakeholders.
Production Miner
Exxaro Resources
08.2023 - 11.2024
- Led a team of operators in underground coal production activities, coordinating daily production activities in line with operational requirements and production targets.
- Maintained workplace safety standards, operational discipline, production execution, compliance with mining procedures and safe achievement of production targets.
- Conducted workplace inspections to identify hazards, unsafe conditions, operational risks and production readiness constraints.
Data Science Intern
Sand Technologies
03.2024 - 06.2024
- Applied Python for data cleaning, data analysis and predictive modelling to support operational optimisation and business problem solving.
- Built understanding of AWS cloud services through AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification.
- Strengthened ability to use data analytics, reporting and digital tools to support continuous improvement, decision support and operational performance improvement.
BlastLogic Intern
Maptek Southern Africa
02.2022 - 12.2022
- Supported digital drill-and-blast management solutions for surface mining operations, including blast design workflows, drillhole validation, drilling data, explosive loading information and blast performance reporting.
- Supported Maptek BlastLogic and Maptek Vulcan within surface mining drill-and-blast environments, working closely with drill-and-blast engineers, mining engineers, operational stakeholders and explosives manufacturers/suppliers.
- Supported integration of drill-and-blast information between Maptek BlastLogic and Maptek Vulcan, improving data governance, workflow efficiency and digital adoption.
- Assisted with drill-and-blast data management, data quality checks, system configuration, operational reporting, technical troubleshooting and user support.
- Gained exposure to the surface mining value chain, including geological interpretation, mine design, drill planning, blast design, explosive loading, blast execution, reconciliation and operational performance monitoring.
- Supported mine planning, geological modelling, spatial data analysis and design workflows through Maptek Vulcan exposure.
- Developed stakeholder engagement skills through collaboration with technical mining teams, drill-and-blast specialists, operational personnel and external explosives service providers.
Graduate Mining Engineer
Impala Platinum
06.2020 - 02.2022
- Gained underground mining production exposure.
- Supported daily production activities and shift execution.
- Developed understanding of drilling and blasting cycles.
- Gained exposure to support installation, logistics and underground mining standards.
- Worked with mining teams and supervisors to understand production requirements.
- Developed foundational knowledge of workplace safety and operational discipline.
- Built understanding of frontline leadership and safe production execution.
Education
Postgraduate Diploma - Project Management
MANCOSA
01-2027
Data Science - undefined
ExploreAI Academy
03-2024
BSc Honours - Mining Engineering
University of The Witwatersrand
03-2020
High School Diploma -
University of Johannesburg Metropolitan Academy
04.2001 -
Skills
Underground Coal & Hard Rock Mining
Surface Mining
Mining Software
Data analysis
PowerBI
Python
Microsoft Suite
Team Collaboration
Problem Solver
System Thinker
Affiliations
- Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM)
- South African Colliery Managers' Association (SACMA)
Certification
ECSA Candidate Engineer - Engineering Council of South Africa - 2023
TARGETED VALUE PROPOSITION
I bring a strong combination of underground mining operations experience, frontline leadership, digital mining systems, Power BI operational reporting, data analytics and continuous improvement capability. My experience enables me to support integrated operations by monitoring value-chain performance, identifying production bottlenecks, improving operational visibility, supporting production schedule execution and applying data-driven insights to guide fact-based decision-making.
My background aligns strongly with an Integrated Operations Centre environment requiring mining operations knowledge, systems thinking, digital improvement, stakeholder coordination, SHEC compliance, risk management, operational excellence and throughput optimisation. I am able to contribute by connecting operational execution, production performance, and digital reporting to improve decision-making, reduce variability and support safe, efficient and integrated production outcomes.
Timeline
Acting Data Scientist
Exxaro Resources
03.2026 - 05.2026
Mine Overseer
Exxaro Resources
07.2025 - 02.2026
Production Shift Supervisor / Shiftboss
Exxaro Resources
12.2024 - 07.2025
Data Science Intern
Sand Technologies
03.2024 - 06.2024
Production Miner
Exxaro Resources
08.2023 - 11.2024
Professional-in-Training: Mining Engineering
Exxaro Resources
01.2023 - Current
BlastLogic Intern
Maptek Southern Africa
02.2022 - 12.2022
Graduate Mining Engineer
Impala Platinum
06.2020 - 02.2022
High School Diploma -
University of Johannesburg Metropolitan Academy
04.2001 -
Data Science - undefined
ExploreAI Academy
Postgraduate Diploma - Project Management
MANCOSA
BSc Honours - Mining Engineering
University of The Witwatersrand